Chapter 155

Bringar Duchy. (TL Note: Changed from Bringar Duchy to Bringar Duchy)

As one might surmise from the name, it was the land governed by the Ducal House of Bringar.

Centuries ago, the last Fire Dragon on the continent, Dusk Bringar, and the reigning emperor were rumored to have a descendant.

Nobody knew how a human and a dragon got married, but...

Anyway, this half-human-half-dragon offspring became the first Duke of Bringar.

The Empire, in turn, entrusted the ducal house with its protection in exchange for ceding some of its territory. The Duke's house, inheriting the dragon's blood, remained loyal to the empire for hundreds of years.

They had coexisted peacefully until now, but the problem was the empire's current situation, having eaten up the continent's "number one".

A saying goes, "Once the rabbit hunt is over, the hunting dogs get boiled."

Now, with global domination under its belt, the empire no longer viewed the duchy with favor.

The duchy not only held a semi-autonomous territory within the Empire's lands, but also had a substantial military power, behaving like a country that fought off the Empire's external enemies.

Moreover, the blood of dragons and emperors, albeit diluted, was undoubtedly royal in lineage.

If left unchecked, they could pose a threat to the Empire, possibly even swallowing the royal family - 

Perhaps, these thoughts were what started the war.

They spent years preparing for it, now pouring in all the available forces.

Now that they have taken the capital, they probably thought they had the upper hand.

What if a foreign force suddenly supported the duchy?

Wouldn't that be some top-tier trolling?

"Isn't the Queen's selection operation going on now?"

Before Fernandez could say anything, I quickly pressed on.

"I know everything, bro. The Dragon Lady has escaped from the fallen capital. They are searching for her all over the Duchy."

The Dukes of Bringar had been females for generations, and this current Duke was also a female.

This character, who bore dragon's blood, had quite a lot of nicknames.

From her official title, Grand Duke of Bringar, to Dragon-Blooded Duchess, Dragon Lady...

But most players simply referred to her this way.

Queen.

Both her looks and actions were truly queen-like, so even though strictly speaking she should be called a Duchess, most people simply called her Queen.

Anyway, the Queen has successfully escaped the capital leading her personal knights.

- How did you know that...!

How could I not?

That's because the most crucial first branch in this game was whether to accept the Queen as an ally or not.

The timing is roughly in the second half of the first year.

Having been defeated in the war against the Empire, the Queen led a guerrilla force to resist to the end. When she was no longer able to fight, she fled to the south and reached the monster frontlines.

The Queen and her knights are all SSR-grade heroes, with insane party strength wrapped in SSR-grade equipment.

First-time players are often mesmerized by this party and accept them as allies.

But it's a massive trap.

The moment you take them under your wing, your relationship with the royal family deteriorates to its worst.

Not only do all support from the capital cease, the routes for magic stone sales are also severely limited.

Not only that, they even start sending armies from the homeland to capture the Queen.

However, the capabilities of the Queen and her knights are phenomenal. There were even some perverted players who managed to reach the ending with just this party.

Anyway, that's how it goes in the game.

'Advance the timing of their recruitment.'

If they don't send support troops, what else can we do?

We have to take sides with our poor friends with matching interests.

Hide the Queen and her knights in the southern front and help them rebuild their forces.

In return, they lend me their strength and help block the monsters.

It's a total win-win!

"The empire's displaced people, refugees with no decent territory, their royalty, their knights. We have more than a few of these on the continent, bro."

- ...

"We will take them all in at the southern front."

Forming a foreign legion of fear, why not?

Gather those who harbor resentment against the empire, chased away from the highway by the young prince. Isn't this picture beautiful?

- Are you out of your mind, Ash?

Fernandez was taken aback.

- Isn't that essentially an act of rebellion!

"No, it's entirely, completely different."

I agree that turning a blind eye isn't the answer. But strictly speaking, this isn't treason.

That's because the monsters are a real disaster.

"The central royalty did not send support here. You can assume they effectively gave up their control. So we're left to face the disaster and ally ourselves with those nearby for survival."

- Does that even make sense-

"If they wanted to make sense, they should have created a sensible situation in the first place."

I grumbled.

"If the nation demands loyalty, shouldn't the nation at least maintain the minimum amount of decency?"

- ...

"The nation doesn't protect us. Without a single reinforcement, they issue a virtual confinement order, and then, they call it rebellion when we struggle to survive? There should be a limit to the bullshit."

- ...

"Make a choice, brother."

I proclaimed what I thought would be the last thing to Fernandez who was silent.

"Will the duchess of the duchy open a way out to the south? Or, will you send a substantial amount of reinforcements to the southern front here?"

- ...

"Lose either the west or the south, choose wisely."

Fernandez's silence felt suffocating though it was brief.

Eventually, his faint voice flowed from the statue of the goddess.

-  ...What scale of reinforcements are you requesting?

I involuntarily clenched my fist.

It worked. My gamble.

"The monsters invading this time are about a thousand wyverns. We need to comfortably handle these beasts."

- How long will you need support?

"For the next five defensive battles."

From stage 6 to stage 10.

I intended to use them sparingly.

"Alright."

Fernandez replied refreshingly.

That's how it should have been from the start, damn brother.

- I cannot send the 1st division from the western front. The encirclement will be empty. Instead, I will send my direct troops from the central...

"Really?"

- I do not lie. Moreover, I think you might actually declare a rebellion if I promise to send them and don't.

Over the communication, I heard something rustling. Was he drafting a document?

- Don't worry too much about timing. My direct troops are the fastest in the world. I will prepare them immediately.

"That's fortunate then."

Thanks to the conclusion, Fernandez's voice seemed slightly softer.

- Are you satisfied with this, little brother?

"I would have been satisfied if you had just sent them promptly. We wouldn't have to blush in embarrassment like this, but well, as long as you send the reinforcements, I am satisfied."

These were the reinforcements that were practically extorted.

Although it was annoying that I had to secure reinforcements that should have been sent by default like this, good news is good news.

With this, I could rest easy for a while.

- But, Ash.

Fernandez lowered his voice.

- You will have to pay for your audacity. Even if it's for the sake of reinforcements, you said too many things that should not be said as a prince.

"..."

- Let's meet face-to-face and talk, little brother.

Meet face-to-face and talk?

He can't be suggesting video communication, so that means...

- Ending the communication. I wish you luck, southern front.

He's cutting off the communication, so I fired back a final retort.

"Go to hell, central."

Click.

The communication magic was cut off.

"Whew..."

I drew in a deep breath.

It seemed I was quite tense as my palm was sweaty. I wiped my palm on my pants and looked back.

Lucas and Margarita were also rigidly tense, watching me. I clapped my hands together.

"The issue of reinforcements is resolved. There's no need to rebel. Everything is great."

That wasn't a simple issue at all, but still.

I boasted unnecessarily then turned to look at the statue of the goddess again.

"By the way, I don't want to hear about blasphemy... but I can't help it."

I took out my staff from my pocket and swung it forward.

Three magical blades that sprang up were embedded in the statue of the goddess. Margarita screamed a short scream.

Crack, crunch...

The plaster shell was stripped away, revealing the magical and alchemical machinery hidden inside the statue.

I swung my staff a few more times nonchalantly.

Boom! Crunch! Clang-!

The communication device was shattered. Honestly, it was a bit of a waste, but this device was not beneficial to me.

I pocketed the staff and gestured at Lucas.

"Lucas, do you believe in the Goddess?"

"I consider myself quite devout."

"Then, if I were to command you to meticulously investigate and, if necessary, destroy every goddess statue and religious symbol in this temple, would you despise me for it?"

"No, there is nothing above your command to me."

"Thank you."

I gave an order to Lucas, who bowed his head to me.

"Three days. Thoroughly search this temple to see if anything else is hidden here."

"Understood."

"Margarita? You will cooperate, won't you?"

At my words, the trembling Margarita swallowed her tears and nodded.

"As per... your command... I will..."

"I'm sure the Goddess would be happier with genuine prayers offered to the void than such devices plotting mischief, mirroring her own likeness."

Though I don't know much about the religious doctrines of this world. Wouldn't that be the case?

***

I returned to the mansion.

The Shadow Squad was still kneeling in the reception room, watched over by the rest of the main party.

It was time to decide their fate.

"Evangeline, Damien, Junior. Step outside for a while. Lilly is outside, too. Gather together."

"But, senior..."

Evangeline rolled her big eyes between me and Godhand.

"He was a... spy, right? In case there's danger..."

"Don't worry about that."

"...Alright. But you have to call us immediately if anything happens, okay?"

The main party cautiously exited the reception room, and I pulled a chair in front of the Shadow Squad members and sat down.

"There's no need for a long discussion."

I drew my staff from within my robes. Three blades of magic power sprouted from behind me.

Bodybag and Burnout swallowed their breath, and Godhand silently watched me.

Without hesitation, I thrust my staff forward.

The three blades of magic power flew at each of them... precisely cutting the ropes that bound them.

I put my staff back in my robes. Now free, the three of them looked at me in shock.

"My judgment of you won't be based on your origin, nor the secrets you harbor."

I said bluntly.

"It's based on your actions thus far."

The Shadow Squad had followed my commands risking their lives.

In fact, Oldgirl and Skull sacrificed their lives to protect me.

I remember Oldgirl's laugh as she bled for me, waving her hand.

I remember Skull's bravery, standing against the vampire king with her dagger drawn.

There was no deceit in their actions.

"So, I've decided to trust you."

I chose to trust them once again.

Only by doing so would they become my people, completely and to the very end.

"Your Majesty...!"

With faces full of emotion, the three of them fell prostrate before me. But, it's not yet the time to shed tears of emotion.

"Godhand. Speak truthfully."

I asked in a stern voice.

"What was the 'secret mission' you were given from above?"